Chicken coop



July l?, i934. D. c. woDRlcH CHICKEN COOP Filed July 25, 1933 Patented July 17, 1934i arsnr .Fries 7 1 Claim.

This invention relates to chicken coops and one object of the invention is to provide a coop which will be very strong in its construction and can be subjected to rough handling without liability of being broken.

Another object of the invention is to construct a coop in which rods or bars extending between marginal strips of the coop are formed of metal to prevent them from easily snapping and to so mount them in the marginal strips that they will be rmly mounted and prevented from accidently slipping out of place or being deliberately worked loose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a `coop having a solid bottom which not only adds strength to the coop but also prevents the feet of chickens in the coop from passing through the bottom and permits grain and other feed to be placed in the coop.

The invention is illustrated in the accompany'- ing drawing wherein.

Figure l is a perspective view of the improved coop.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of a corner portion of the crate with portions of the marginal strips broken away to illustrate the manner in which the rods are mounted.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the door in the top of the crate. Y This improved crate which is to be used for confining chickens, and other foivls may be of any dimensions desired according to the number and size of fowls to be connned therein and has a bottom l, side end walls 2 and 3 and top Il. The bottom is formed of tongue and groove boards 5 as shown in Fig. 1 in order to provide a solid floor or bottom for the crate and permit the fowls to walk easily in the crate and also permit food to be placed therein for consumption by the fowls. This also adds strength to the crate and permits them to be stacked one upon another.

In order to form the siie and end walls there has been provided corner posts or standards 6 which rise from the bottom and there has also been provided upper and lower bars or rails 7 and 8 which may be referred to as marginal strips for the crate. These strips and the standards are preferably l inch thick by 2 inches wide and formed of wood but it is to be understood that the dimensions can be varied if found advisable. In order to secure the strips '7 and 8 to the corner posts bolts 9 are used and it should be noted that the bolts are so passed through the posts that while they extend through the same at right angles to each other and cross each other through the posts they will be located one above another. This prevents the bolts from interfering With each other and also prevents undue weakening of the posts. After the marginal strips have been secured, metal plates 10 are applied at corners of the bottom to reinforce them and prevent darnage if a crate is carelessly handled and dropped. Rods or bars 11 extend vertically between the upper and lower strips, and these rods are formed of strong metal and have their end portions seated in sockets formed in the marginal strips as shown in Fig. 2. Referring to this figure it will be seen that the rods are iirmly embedded in the strips and when the strips are secured to the corner posts can not .slip out of place or be slid longitudinally to such a position that they can be removed. They also serve very effectively as braces to prevent the corner posts from being broken by longitudinal or transverse strain.

The top 4 is also formed of wooden strips and metal rods and has end strips 12 and intermediate strips 13 spaced from each other longitudinally of the crate and formed with side sockets to receive the metal rods 14. The rods back of the door 15 may extend the full length of the crate and pass through the 'intermediate strips 13 or they may be in sections each having its ends embedded in strips. The end strips are nailed to the upper marginal strips of the end walls and between the intermediate strips is mounted a cross bar or strip 16 to which the door is connected by hinges 17.

Referring to Figure 3 it will be seen that the door consists of side and end strips 18 and 19, the end strips being recessed as shown at 20 t0 901, receive ends of the side strips which are secured by nails 21 and braced against movement towards each other by portions of the end strips which extend between them. Sockets are formed in inner side faces of the end strips to receive end portions of rods 22 corresponding to the rods 11 and 14 and in order to secure the door closed there has been provided a hasp 23 carried by the front strip of the door and engageable with a companion element 24 carried by the upper mar- 100 ginal strip of the front wall of the crate which may be a suitable latch or a staple to receive a padlock after the door has been closed and the hasp moved into engagement with the keeper 24. The door when closed ts snugly between the in- 105 termediate strips 13 and will therefore be braced against side strain and be prevented from being wrenched loose from the strip 16.

When this crate is in use the door is opened and chickens or other fowls thrust through the 11G A crate comprising a bottom, side and ends Walls rising from said bottom and having upper and lower marginal strips, a top for said crate having end strips secured upon upper strips of the end Wall and intermediate strips xed to said Walls, a cross bar extending longitudinally of said crate between the intennediate strips, metallic rods extending longitudinally of said top and anchored in the end strips, a door hinged t0 said cross bar and tting snugly between the intermediate strips when closed, one side bar of the door resting upon and engaging the top of one side wall of the crate.

DANIEL C. WODRICH. 

